Home Alone (1990) - IMDb IMDb 31 December 2016 3:54 PM, UTC NEWS There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error An 8-year old troublemaker must protect his home from a pair of burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation. Director: From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 22 titles created 14 Mar 2011 a list of 35 titles created 26 Nov 2011 a list of 45 titles created 30 Jul 2012 a list of 24 titles created 20 Feb 2013 a list of 36 titles created 01 May 2014 Search for " Home Alone " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin.

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 4 nominations. See more awards » Videos One year after Kevin was left home alone and had to defeat a pair of bumbling burglars, he accidentally finds himself in New York City, and the same criminals are not far behind. Director: Chris Columbus Alex Pruitt, a young boy of nine living in Chicago, fend off thieves who seek a top-secret chip in his toy car to support a North Korean terrorist organization's next deed. Director: Raja Gosnell After inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community due to his ungainly size, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity. Director: Jon Favreau On the outskirts of Whoville, there lives a green, revenge-seeking Grinch who plans on ruining the Christmas holiday for all of the citizens of the town. Director: Ron Howard When a man inadvertantly kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place. Director: John Pasquin A young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express. During his adventure he learns about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

Director: Robert Zemeckis A newly recruited night security guard at the Museum of Natural History discovers that an ancient curse causes the animals and exhibits on display to come to life and wreak havoc. Director: Shawn Levy After a bitter divorce, an actor disguises himself as a female housekeeper to spend time with his children held in custody by his former wife. Director: Chris Columbus When two kids find and play a magical board game, they release a man trapped for decades in it and a host of dangers that can only be stopped by finishing the game. Director: Joe Johnston A young boy wins a tour through the most magnificent chocolate factory in the world, led by the world's most unusual candy maker. Director: Tim Burton A cowboy doll is profoundly threatened and jealous when a new spaceman figure supplants him as top toy in a boy's room. Director: John Lasseter In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie attempts to convince his parents, his teacher, and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect Christmas gift. Director: Bob Clark Edit Storyline It is Christmas time and the McCallister family is preparing for a vacation in Paris, France.

But the youngest in the family named Kevin got into a scuffle with his older brother Buzz and was sent to his room which is on the third floor of his house. Then, the next morning, while the rest of the family was in a rush to make it to the airport on time, they completely forgot about Kevin who now has the house all to himself. Being home alone was fun for Kevin, having a pizza all to himself, jumping on his parents' bed, and making a mess. Then, Kevin discovers about two burglars, Harry and Marv, about to rob his house on Christmas Eve. Kevin acts quickly by wiring his own house with makeshift booby traps to stop the burglars and to bring them to justice. Written by John Wiggins When Kevin's family left on their European vacation they forgot one minor detail: Kevin.

See more » Genres: 16 November 1990 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Mi pobre angelito See more » Filming Locations: Catherine O'Hara revealed in 2014 that Macaulay Culkin still calls her "Mom." See more » Goofs When Harry and Marv are climbing across the rope and Harry tells Marv to go back, we see them from behind, then when it cuts to the shot facing them front-on, Kevin can be seen in the background about to cut the rope. If you look closely this is not Kevin, it is his stand-in. See more » Quotes Kevin McCallister : Is this toothbrush approved by the American Dental Association? Clerk : Well, I don't know. It doesn't say, hon. Kevin McCallister : Well, could you please find out? Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp. By Arrangement with Warner Special Products (U.S.A.) – See all my reviews Home Alone is arguably one of the funniest movies ever! Its really good. The cast is very good! It was sweet to see John Candy in it!

The team work of Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern is just not insanely hilarious but its also incredible that the two are so good together and I like how their scenes of punishment is followed right after the other! I think John Heard looks like Bruce Willis! I like Catherine O'Hara, she is a fine actress! Look for Larry Hankin and Roberts Blossom! John Williams has another great score here!This is a perfect movie for people to watch around Christmas and if you need a big laugh watch this as it will crack you up! Also, I strongly recommend Home Alone 2! It arguably funnier then this plus Time Curry, Brenda Fricker, and Rod Sell appears in it! Both movies are strongly recommended! 52 of 77 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes ‎Home Alone (1990) directed by Chris Columbus • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd Part of Buddy the Elf, What's Your Favorite Color? “Kevin, you are such a disease.” There is a temptation to say that the culture is careening headlong toward oblivion. That the things that are popular now are not as good as the things that were popular in yesteryear.

That we are all riding a downward slope to an Idiocracy-type society wherein the only joke of any cultural relevance will consist of someone getting hit in the balls. But this is only partly true. For one thing, anything involving “balls” always was and always will be funny. I mean, it’s right there on the face of it. “Balls.” Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you to stop laughing.... For another, disturbing trends… 2 All right, so this is a lousy movie, with a hammy child actor, a cloying John Williams score, and a “comedy” screenplay by John Hughes that’s low on actual jokes. But what fascinates me about Home Alone is its purity. Deep down, it’s a D.W. Griffith-style melodrama with three intercut lines of action: the child at home, his mother to the rescue, and the thieves repeatedly attempting to infiltrate the homestead. The only real twist applied to this ancient formula is that here, the would-be victim becomes his own hero, fending off the villainous buffoons by rehashing old Three Stooges gags.

Within this melodramatic template, the film also engages in a wish fulfillment fantasy, which slowly transforms into a morality… 6 With "Home Alone," director, Chris Columbus, and producer/writer, John Hughes, combine warmth, physical comedy, and cartoony violence to create a holiday classic that induces giggles, tears, and vicarious cringing. It may lack the melancholic-turned-joyful authenticity of true Christmas greats; but what "Home Alone" lacks in realness, it makes up for in entertainment value. It is a hilarious and gleeful Christmas confection. The plot has become iconic: when he is left behind after his parents head to Paris for the Christmas holidays, resourceful Kevin McCallister must fend for himself and fend off burglars who target the McCallister manse. It is pure, kid-friendly fantasy wrapped in a blanket of winter snow; and, for all its ridiculousness, it works.

Columbus crafts a swift,… Home Alone: Family Fun Edition (1990) Home Alone: Family Fun Edition (1990) Reviewed by Colin Jacobson (November 7, 2006) In 1990, the sleepers were the kings - and queens - of the box office. That was a year in which highly-touted flicks like Dick Tracy failed to live up to expectations while some lesser-lights cleaned up financially. Four of 1990�s pictures currently rank within the top 100 highest-grossing films of all-time. At number 95, the year�s first breakout hit came out in the spring. Pretty Woman made Julia Roberts a star and revived the career of Richard Gere as it took in $178 million and inspired prostitutes all over the world. The next surprise success came during the summer with another �chick flick�, Ghost . A complete surprise to most, this weepy comedy nailed an impressive $217 million, which allows it to land at 55th on the all-time chart. Of the four films under discussion, the riskiest was definitely the fall�s Dances With Wolves .

Prior to release, industry wags dubbed it �Kevin�s Gate�, for they were absolutely certain the three-hour western would derail star Kevin Costner�s career. Instead, the movie nabbed a bunch of Academy Awards - including Best Picture and Best Director for Costner - and it earned a heap of wampum as well; ultimately the movie grossed $184 million, which qualifies it for 83rd on the all-time list. For all of the monetary success achieved by these three films, none of them compared with the final flick in our little list of four. Arriving around the same time as Dances With Wolves, Home Alone appealed to a very different demographic, but it maintained enough interest for a broad audience to swipe an amazing $285 million. That easily made it the biggest hit of 1990, and it currently leaves it at 27th on the all-time chart. (Box office footnote: all four have plummeted in the charts since I originally reviewed Home Alone in 2001. Pretty Woman dropped 44 spots, while Ghost went down 29. Wolves fell 41 places and Home Alone sank 15.

That means Alone is lower on the chart now than Ghost was five years ago!) Frankly, I could never understand the huge success of Alone, though that doesn�t mean that I didn�t comprehend the general appeal of the material. Hmm� those concepts seem to contradict themselves. What I mean is that while I can see why a certain audience might enjoy Home Alone, I fail to perceive how this silly junk could become the 12th top-grossing film ever. Perhaps Serendipity - the muse from Dogma - was right; someone must have sold their soul to get the grosses up on this piece of hooey. In Home Alone, we meet the very upper-middle-class McCallister family. Headed by father Peter (John Heard) and mother Kate (Catherine O�Hara), this brood - which also includes extended family such as cousins, aunts and uncles for the holidays - plans to head to France for Christmas. Stuck in the middle of the pandemonium, young Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) feels that he always gets the shaft.

No one listens to him or respects him, and after he gets in trouble for a fight with his brother, he tells Mom that he wishes he didn�t live with them. Fairy tales can come true. A storm knocks out their power, which makes the clan run late for their flight. In the ruckus to get to the airport, Kevin fails to make the van. No one notices this until they�re on the jet to Paris. That�s when Kate realizes that her son is� home alone! Fortunately for all involved, Kevin is a resourceful eight-year-old, and much of the movie shows the fun he has with all his freedom. A couple of dark linings exist, though. For one, Kevin feels terrified of his spooky neighbor, Old Man Marley (Roberts Blossom). Even more threatening, however, are Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci), two house crooks who canvas the neighborhood. With so many families out of town for the holidays, the prosperous street is ripe for the picking, and they seem especially excited about the sumptuous McCallister household. However, they aren�t prepared for our quick-witted protagonist.

The film flirts with their interactions through much of its running time, as Kevin uses a variety of quick fixes to keep Harry and Marv away from his domain. (I guess he never thought to simply contact the police.) All of this builds to the movie�s famous climax in which Kevin mines the home to torture and abuse the criminals into submission. While audiences enjoyed most of Home Alone, the end sequence remains its true calling card. I saw Home Alone twice during the winter of 1990-91. During the first screening, I took it in with a small matinee crowd. I thought the movie was decently enjoyable at that time, and I went to watch it again when it rolled around to a local bargain theater. For that showing, the room was packed, and these people were absolutely out of control! I�ve never been with a more hysterically amused audience. I saw people literally slap their knees on many occasions, and at times they went so nuts that a few viewers could not keep themselves from actually banging their heads against the walls. Many times, a raucous audience will make a movie seem more enjoyable, as the communal spirit lifts the material. The opposite happened when I saw Home Alone.

I couldn�t believe the overreaction displayed by the crowd. Sure, some of this stuff seemed amusing, but it didn�t even remotely merit the fantastic reaction it received. Also, I saw more of the film�s flaws the second time around, and I left the theater with a negative opinion of Home Alone. That sentiment hasn�t changed over the last 15 years. Actually, I hadn�t seen the movie in quite some time, but it hasn�t improved with age. On the positive side, while I hate to admit it, Culkin really was quite good as Kevin. In later films he proved that he couldn�t really act, but for this part he seemed perfect. Culkin displayed just the right confidence and cockiness to make the role work, and though his performance didn�t amuse me, I still think it came across as very winning for this sort of film. As the �Wet Bandits�, both Pesci and Stern literally threw themselves into their roles. All involved understood the insanely cartoony nature of the material, so no one appeared to take it too seriously.

Stern and Pesci are both fine actors - Pesci won an Oscar in 1991 for 1990�s GoodFellas - who were slumming here, but they didn�t let that fact affect their performances. Otherwise, I can�t think of much positive to say about Home Alone. Its main problem stemmed from the fact that much of the movie simply wasn�t very funny. So many of the comedic elements seemed trite or contrived that the piece lost much effect. Not only did the slapstick climax come off as excessively brutal - there were some moments that became very painful to watch - but the whole thing finished in an unsatisfying manner. I won�t reveal the exact end of Kevin�s fight with the Bandits, but I thought it felt like a disappointment. The film�s plot was paper thin, and once you got past the conceit of the little kid left to fend for himself, there wasn�t much to the film. We also saw Kate�s attempts to get home to him, but these moments felt tacked on to the story. I adore O�Hara, but she was wasted as the shrill Kate. Actually, the entire extended family was a drag.

I realize that they had to be somewhat nasty to Kevin to roll the plot in motion, but they seemed to be so unfair and malicious that it made them terribly unlikable. Frankly, it felt like Kevin was better off on his own. His relatives were judgmental, unpleasant creeps, and they made it impossible to care if they ever were reunited. While I didn�t like Home Alone, I won�t call it a terrible movie. However, it was a somewhat uninspired offering that earned its popularity via a few harsh slapstick scenes. For those in the mood for such fare, the flick might satisfy, but it lacked any depth or cleverness that would make it more entertaining in the long run. The DVD Grades: Picture B+/ Audio B+/ Bonus B Home Alone appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1 on this single-sided, dual-layered DVD; the image has been enhanced for 16X9 televisions. Some minor issues popped up here and there but the flick usually looked pretty good. Sharpness was the only sporadic concern, and one I found difficult to evaluation due to the movie�s visual design.

The filmmakers clearly wanted a warm, homey feel to the project, so some of the softness I saw appeared to come from this; Alone went with a slightly fuzzy look to reflect this tone. However, I thought the transfer was a bit softer than expected, even given the apparent photographic choices. The movie was never terribly soft, and clarity improved as it progressed, but it could have been better defined. No issues with shimmering or jagged edges occurred, but I noticed occasional edge haloes. Source flaws were happily absent. Only a few minor source defects occurred, as I noticed a speck or two but that was it. This was a consistently clean and smooth presentation. Home Alone presented some warm and natural colors. I thought the hues looked tight and pleasant throughout the film, and they showed no problems related to bleeding, noise, or other issues. Skin tones were a little ruddy at times, though. Black levels looked nicely deep and rich, and shadow detail was appropriately dense but not excessively thick. The softness almost knocked this one down to a �B�, but I thought the image was strong enough to earn a borderline �B+�. I also liked the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack of Home Alone.

The soundfield offered a pretty engaging affair, though it stayed true to the film�s comic roots. Those kinds of movies usually don�t provide active soundtracks, and while Alone had some wild moments toward its end, the spectrum usually remained appropriately subdued. However, music showed good stereo separation in the front channels, and the score also spread very nicely to the surrounds. The forward domain displayed good atmosphere, with clean localization of sounds and smooth integration. In addition to the usual ambience they added, the rear speakers also kicked in some louder support at times. For example, airport scenes included realistic elements that made those segments come to life. This track featured a little stereo surround material on occasion, as some atmospheric bits clearly came localized in the back. This wasn�t a dazzling soundfield, but it seemed quite good given its era and the flick�s genre. Audio quality was perfectly solid. Dialogue sounded natural and distinct throughout the film, and I discerned no concerns related to intelligibility or edginess. Effects were clear and appropriately accurate. The climactic scenes displayed the right levels of comic exaggeration and impact, and the whole affair lacked any distortion. Music sounded surprisingly robust and vivid, as the score became a fairly active partner in the package.

Low-end also seemed to be nicely rich and deep. Ultimately, the soundtrack of Home Alone has held up well over the 15 years. How did the picture and audio of this �Family Fun Edition� compare to those of the prior DVD ? Audio was pretty similar in terms of scope and quality, though the change from the original disc�s 2.0 track to this one�s 5.1 mix meant that smattering of stereo surround information. The new mix was a bit broader and livelier, so it got a �B+� compared to the original�s �B�. More notable improvements came from the 2006 disc�s transfer. The old version offered non-anamorphic visuals that suffered from shimmering, jags, softness, heavy edge enhancement and source dirt. Some of the same lack of definition remained, but this edition cleaned up the rest and looked much more satisfying. The 2006 DVD presented a much stronger transfer. While the original disc included almost no extras, the �Family Fun Edition� comes with a bunch of supplements. We begin with an audio commentary from director Chris Columbus and actor Macaulay Culkin. Both sit together for this running, screen-specific track.

They chat about how Columbus came onto the project, Culkin�s casting and performance, the script and working with John Hughes, constrictions related to budget and child labor laws, score and songs, cinematography, locations and production design, unused concepts, cast and tensions on the set, score and how John Williams got the gig, stunts, and general filming notes. Going into this track, I worried it would be little more than �wasn�t that fun?� and �wasn�t that great� nostalgia. Happily, it turned out to be a very lively and informative discussion. Columbus and Culkin interact well as they display charm and frankness. In addition to notes about the ways the adult actors occasionally seemed to resent Culkin�s starring status, we find amusing details about goofs in the final flick. We get a good sense of the production along with many fine stories about the shoot. This is a consistently engaging and enjoyable commentary. A slew of featurettes come next. Mac Cam: Behind the Scenes with Macaulay Culkin goes for four minutes, 47 seconds. As implied by the title, we see video footage Culkin shot on the O�Hare Airport set.

We get a few comments from Culkin now and then as we watch him and the others during the shoot. It�s a cute artifact but not an especially revealing or interesting one. A 1990 Press Featurette fills a mere three minutes, 53 seconds with notes from Culkin, Columbus, and actors Catherine O�Hara, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern. We get some basics about the story, characters and production. No real information appears, but some of the footage from the set proves moderately intriguing. This remains a highly promotional piece, though, so don�t expect much from it. More behind the scenes material comes from the seven-minute and three-second How to Burglar-Proof Your Home: The Stunts of Home Alone. This features stunt coordinator Freddie Hice, director of photography Julio Macat, executive producers Tarquin Gotch and Scott Rosenfelt and stunt double Troy Brown. Like you might expect, this piece examines how the crew executed the movie�s over the top pratfalls and stunts. Unfortunately, it lacks a lot of detail. We find none of the shots from the set that would help illustrate the elements, and the stories prove only moderately illuminating.

This is a subject ripe for exploration, but �Stunts� doesn�t give us a very good examination of the issues. One of the disc�s longer pieces, The Making of Home Alone goes for 19 minutes and 23 seconds. It includes notes from Columbus, Macat, Gotch, Stern, Culkin, Brown, Hice, Rosenfelt, composer John Williams, executive producer Mark Levinson, and casting director Janet Hirshenson. �Making� looks at the movie�s script and its visual look, the atmosphere on the set, casting and performances, score, and the film�s continued appeal. This turns into a moderately interesting program. A few useful notes appear, but the piece lacks the depth of the commentary. Expect a decent overview of the production that fails to deliver a ton of substance. Home Alone Around the World lasts three minutes, 53 seconds. It takes various snippets of the movie and shows them dubbed in various languages. It�s a cute extra, especially since we can compare the foreign voices to those of the original actors. For the final featurette, we get the three-minute and three-second Where�s Buzz Now?.

This gives us the opinions of Rosenfelt, Hice, Hirshenson, Levinson, Gotch, Macat, Brown, and actor Devin Ratray in character as Buzz. All of them tell us what they think happened to Kevin�s obnoxious brother. It�s mildly interesting at best, though one look at Ratray establishes that Buzz spent most of the last 16 years eating � he�s developed into a serious tub! A Blooper Reel runs two minutes and five seconds. Most of this presents the usual flubs and giggles, though a couple of interesting bits appear. It�s fun to see Stern annoy Pesci with his claps to synch the film. Angels with Filthy Souls goes for two minutes, six seconds. This features notes from Rosenfelt, Levinson, and Macat as they discuss the little �movie within the movie�. We then get to see the brief bit of footage all on its own. That makes it a cool addition. Under the Trailers banner, we get three promos for Home Alone. Of great interest to fans, we get 15 Deleted Scenes/Alternate Takes. These fill a total of 16 minutes, 31 seconds.

These extend the segments in the house before the family leaves, and Marv tells us why he hates Christmas. We also get to meet the relatives in Paris and see much more of the family as they sit around there. The funniest bits are the shortest ones. I like Uncle Frank�s childish practical joke on Kevin, and the kid�s declaration of �I don�t remember the food groups� produces a quirky chuckle. Another Marv and Harry piece almost turns into a reprise of Pesci�s classic �Do I amuse you?� riff from GoodFellas. Some of the clips bore, but there�s enough good stuff here to entertain the fans. The disc finishes with three Games. �Battle Plan� requires you to remember which attack elements Kevin used in various house locations. This offers a moderate challenge. �Trivia Quiz� mix easy and somewhat difficult questions for a reasonably fun piece. Note that if you play again, you�ll get different questions. �Head Count� requires you to pay attention to all parts of some short movie clips and then answer numerical questions about them. Maybe I�m just too old for this, but the bits fly by so quickly that it becomes really tough to see the nuances.

Home Alone didn�t do much for me in 1990 and that hasn�t changed over the years. I can�t deny that it has a few charms - mainly via some solid performances - but the piece as a whole seems inane and excessively mean-spirited at times. The DVD offers very good picture and audio along with some extras highlighted by a lot of deleted scenes and a simply terrific audio commentary. My lack of affection for Home Alone prevents a strong thumbs-up for it, but I can definitely endorse this DVD for fans. It offers a great improvement over the prior release. It�s the one for new purchasers to get and it would be a fine double-dip for those who own the original DVD. Viewer Film Ratings: 4.4255 Stars Number of Votes: 47 Then + Now: The Cast of 'Home Alone' REDDIT 20th Century Fox It’s been 25 years since the McCallister family went to Paris for Christmas, leaving little Kevin home alone to fend off the Wet Bandits, Old Man Marley and that terrifying basement furnace.

Thanks to John Hughes’ trademark “kid’s perspective” viewpoint and a feel-good ending, ‘Home Alone’ has become a Christmas classic, with countless families gathering around the television to watch the movie year after year. We know you’re curious, so read on to find out what the McCallister clan (and other film favorites!) are up to now. Macaulay Culkin (Kevin McCallister) YouTube/Pacific Coast News Then: Macaulay Culkin played Kevin McCallister, whose “forgetful” parents left him home alone over the holidays, where he single-handedly duped two bumbling thieves, helped his elderly neighbor reunite with his family and realized the true meaning of the holiday season.

It was this role that shot Culkin into child star fame, and he soon scored starring parts in ‘My Girl,’ ‘The Pagemaster’ and ‘Richie Rich.’ He later reprised his role as Kevin in ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.’ Now: Culkin has continued to act, with parts on ‘Will & Grace,’ in ‘Saved!’ and voicing various characters (including a parody of his ‘Home Alone’ alter-ego) on ‘Robot Chicken.’ After marrying (and divorcing) while he was just a teen, Culkin later dated Mila Kunis for eight (!) years until their breakup in 2011. In addition to his acting career, Culkin has recently explored other pursuits, including art (even having a New York exhibit of his artwork ) and playing in a pizza-themed Velvet Underground tribute band called the Pizza Underground. He currently splits his time between Paris and New York and is dating ‘All My Children’ actress Jordan Lane Price. Joe Pesci (Harry) 20th Century Fox/Alberto E.

Rodriguez, Getty Images Then: In ‘Home Alone,’ Joe Pesci portrayed gold-toothed burglar Harry, who wanted nothing more than to torture Kevin like he tortured him, blow torch to the head and all. By the time Pesci starred in ‘Home Alone,’ he was already an Academy Award-winning actor, with starring roles in Martin Scorsese’s ‘Raging Bull’ and ‘Goodfellas,’ and was known for his gangster villain-type characters. Now: In addition to reprising his role in ‘Home Alone 2′, Pesci went on to star in ‘My Cousin Vinny’ and the ‘Lethal Weapon’ series. He retired from acting in the late ’90s, but came out of retirement in 2006 to land a role in the Robert Deniro film ‘The Good Sheperd,’ and later in 2010’s ‘Love Ranch’ with Helen Mirren. In 2011, he played himself in a Snickers commercial.

Daniel Stern (Marv) YouTube/David Buchan, Getty Images Then: Daniel Stern played Marv, the bumbling burglar who coined the name Wet Bandits and spent the last half of the film with the imprint of an iron on his face. Surprise: Stern was also the voice of older Kevin Arnold/the narrator in ‘The Wonder Years.’ Now: Stern has acted steadily since ‘Home Alone,’ once again playing Marv in the sequel, and voicing characters like Dilbert on the short-lived ‘Dilbert’ animated series. In 2012, he once again starred in a Christmas film when he played the role of the Old Man in ‘A Christmas Story 2,’ a direct-to-video sequel of Jean Shepherd’s classic Christmas movie. Catherine O’Hara (Kate McCallister) 20th Century Fox/Jason Merritt, Getty Images Then: Catherine O’Hara played Kevin’s mother, Kate McCallister, who accidentally leaves her 8-year-old son home alone at Christmas and does everything she can to get back to him. (Make up for it all you want, Mrs. McCallister, but you still seem like a pretty neglectful mom.

Especially when the same thing kind of happens in ‘Home Alone 2’!) Apart from her role as the McCallister matriarch, O’Hara was well-known at the time for being a part of ‘SCTV,’ a sketch-comedy show, and as Lydia’s stepmom in ‘Beetlejuice.’ Now: O’Hara has since starred in a wealth of TV shows and films, including ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ (as the voice of Sally), the Christopher Guest mockumentary films ‘Waiting for Guffman,’ ‘Best in Show,’ ‘A Mighty Wind’ and ‘For Your Consideration,’ and various other works. She is married to production designer/director Bo Welch, and has two sons (neither of which she has ever left home alone — at least, as far as we know.) O’Hara currently stars in the show ‘Schitt’s Creek.’ John Heard (Peter McCallister) 20th Century Fox/YouTube Then: While it is Kevin’s mom who usually gets the blame for leaving her son behind, his dad, Peter McCallister, was no innocent party either — and loses Kevin yet again in the sequel.

At the time, John Heard was also known for his roles in ‘Cutter’s Way,’ ‘Big’ and ‘Beaches.’ Now: Despite a troubling personal life (Heard was arrested twice in the ’90s; once for third-degree assault against his ex-girlfriend, and he was later found guilty for trespassing at her home), Heard’s acting career was successful during this decade. He has worked steadily since — though his parts have gotten smaller — with recurring roles on ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘CSI: Miami’ and ‘Prison Break.’ Heard made waves (get it?) in the sci-fi “so-bad-it’s-good” TV movie, ‘Sharknado’ and appeared on Lifetime’s ‘The Lizzie Borden Chronicles.’ Devin Ratray (Buzz McCallister) YouTube/Ilya S.

Savenok, Getty Images Then: Devin Ratray played Kevin’s older, bullying brother, Buzz, who kept a pet tarantula and had a girlfriend Kevin could only describe as “woof.” ‘Ratray went on to reprise his role as Buzz in ‘Home Alone 2′ and later had a bit part in another Hughes’ film, ‘Dennis the Menace.’ Now: Ratray has continued to act, with a small role in ‘The Prince and Me,’ and stints on ‘Law & Order,’ ‘Supernatural,’ ‘The Good Wife’ and in the horror film ‘R.I.P.D.’ But the greatest thing Ratray has done post-‘Home Alone’ is the 2007 documentary ‘Courting Condi,’ in which he travels all over the country in an attempt to court then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Hillary Wolf (Megan McCaliister) 20th Century Fox/Andy Lyons, Getty Images Then: Hillary Wolf portrayed Kevin’s older sister, Megan, who was perhaps the only sibling who showed an ounce of worry for her younger brother while he was home alone.

She later reprised her role as Megan in ‘Home Alone 2.’ Now: After landing the starring role in ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry… They Get Even,’ Wolf decided to seriously pursue her passion for judo, which she had been doing since she was a kid. As a double black belt, she went to the Summer Olympics in both 1996 and 2000 and is currently a judo sensai at Wolf Judo , her brother’s judo studio. Michael C. Maronna (Jeff McCallister) 20th Century Fox/Twitter Then: Mike Maronna played the other McCallister brother, the redheaded Jeff, who famously tells Kevin, “You’re such a disease.” Maronna was also well-known in the ’90s for playing Big Pete on Nickelodeon’s ‘The Adventures of Pete & Pete.’ Now: In the late ’90s, Maronna garnered even more recognition with his role as Stuart in Ameritrade commercials.

Soon after, he had parts in ‘Slackers’ and ’40 Days and 40 Nights,’ but went on to focus on the production side of TV and film, and has served as an electrician on over 40 television shows and movies, including ‘Sex and the City,’ ‘Men in Black 3′ and ‘Elementary.’ Angela Goethals (Linnie McCallister) YouTube/Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images Then: In ‘Home Alone,’ Angela Goethals played Kevin’s other older sister, Linnie (how many siblings did this kid have?!). Goethals was also one of the only actors from the original film who did not return for the sequel. Now: After ‘Home Alone,’ Goethals got her big break as the main character in the TV show, ‘Phenom,’ which lasted for a year. In 1996, she had a small role in ‘Jerry Maguire,’ but soon left to go to college.

After graduating from Vassar in 1999, Goethals got back into the business, with roles in ‘Six Feet Under,’ ‘Without a Trace’ and a small part in the Adam Sandler comedy ‘Spanglish.’ In 2005, she had a recurring role as Maya Driscoll on ’24,’ and is set to appear in ‘B4TM,’ the sequel to horror-comedy ‘Behind the Mask’ which she also starred in. Roberts Blossom (Old Man Marley) YouTube Then: Roberts Blossom (how cool of a name is that?) played snow shovel-wielding Old Man Marley, whom Kevin discovers is more friendly than frightening. He also comes to Kevin’s rescue at the end, beating the Wet Bandits over the head with a shovel.

While our generation knows Blossom best for his role in ‘Home Alone,’ he was actually a serious Broadway and off-Broadway actor, and also had notable supporting roles in ‘Slaughterhouse Five,’ ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind,’ ‘Christine’ and alongside Clint Eastwood in ‘Escape from Alcatraz.’ Now: Before retiring from acting in the late ’90s, Blossom also had parts in ‘Doc Hollywood’ with Michael J. Fox and the Leonardo DiCaprio film ‘The Quick and the Dead,’ amongst several roles on television. In addition to his acting, Blossom was also an accomplished poet, and he was the subject of a documentary film about his life, called ‘Full Blossom: The Life of Poet/Actor Roberts Blossom.’ He passed away in 2011, at the age of 87. Ralph Foody (Johnny – ‘Angels WIth Filthy Souls’) YouTube Then: Ever wondered who played gangster Johnny in the film-within-a-film ‘Angels With Filthy Souls’?

Character actor Ralph Foody was responsible for delivering one of the movie’s most famous lines, “Keep the change, ya filthy animal.” (In addition to ‘Home Alone,’ Foody also had small roles in several films in the late ’80s and early ’90s, including the Police Dispatcher in ‘The Blues Brothers.’) Now: Foody reprised his role as Johnny in ‘Angels With Filthier Souls’ in ‘Home Alone 2.’ It was his last role before he died in 1999 at the age of 71.

Gerry Bamman (Uncle Frank McCallister) YouTube/ John Lamparski, Getty Images Then: Gerry Bamman played Kevin’s ornery Uncle Frank, who was probably most known for being a complete a-hole and yelling at Kevin, “Look what ya did, ya little jerk!” (There’s even a conspiracy theory that Uncle Frank set up the Wet Bandit burglary.) Now: After reprising his role in ‘Home Alone 2,’ Bamman has continued to work in film, television and theater, and has had several starring roles both on and off-Broadway, most notably as the Duke of Venice ‘The Merchant of Venice.’ Kieran Culkin (Fuller McCallister) YouTube/Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images Then: Kieran Culkin’s first-ever role was as Kevin’s Pepsi-drinking, bed-wetting cousin Fuller.

As Macaulay’s real-life younger brother, Kieran went on to become a child star in his own right, with roles in movies like the ‘Father of the Bride’ films, ‘She’s All That,’ ‘The Mighty’ and ‘Igby Goes Down.’ Now: In the mid-2000s, Kieran took a break from films to focus on his theater career, but returned to the big screen with major roles in ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. The World,’ ‘Margaret’ and recently appeared on the ‘Fargo’ television series. John Candy (Gus Polinski) Youtube Then: Lovable comedian John Candy had a cameo appearance in ‘Home Alone,’ playing kind-hearted polka player Gus Polinski, who gives Mrs. McCallister a ride back to Chicago. Candy was a favorite of John Hughes, and had previously starred in 1987’s ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,’ and alongside Macaulay Culkin in 1989’s ‘Uncle Buck,’ another Hughes film.

Now: Post-‘Home Alone,’ Candy continued to act in major films, and had just finished filming the last scene of the western parody ‘Wagons East’ when he died suddenly of a heart attack in 1994. Subscribe to PopCrush on Home Alone YIFY subtitles source Heartwarming Holiday family classic.10/10 'Home Alone' has succeeded in establishing itself as a Christmas tradition, spawning off three sequels (including a made-for-television flop), and a whole franchise in and of it. Macaulay Culkin plays Kevin McCallister, the average American child. He has an attitude almost expected of a Chris Columbus film from the eighties. He lives with a large family, which, right now, being around Christmas time, is about quadrupled, flooded by relatives' children, all of whom pick on poor, poor Kevin (sympathy long lost later into the film). One day Kevin wakes up from his sleep to find his wish has come true: his parents (John Heard and Catherine O'Hara) have disappeared.

Enthralled by this, he proceeds to do everything and anything he was not allowed to do before, including eating ice cream in the morning, watching violent gangster films, jumping on the bed, wrecking his brother's room, and having some fun with a BB gun. Unfortunately for Kevin, his parents have not just disappeared - they have accidentally left him at home before going to Paris! Trouble really starts when two pesky burglars, Harry Lime (Joe Pesci) and Marv Merchants (Daniel Stern), decide that their next burglary will be at the McCallister residence. Little do they know Kevin is more than prepared, arming the house with an array of booby-traps that would impress top spies in the American government. John Hughes, writer/director/producer of my favorite comedy, 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles,' wrote this film, and it is no wonder. It is just like Hughes' humor. It mixes emotion, belly laughs and a warm-hearted ending all into one little bundle called a movie. John Hughes' films, in my experience, are usually very good, mainly because he approaches films at a very classic level.

He doesn't resort to crude, kid jokes, like 'The Master of Disguise' or 'The Tuxedo,' to name a few recent flops. He almost always levels everything out perfectly in his scripts, and nothing is different here. Also, he places Kevin and co. in a large brick home in a large neighborhood in Chicago; a home that very much resembles those in 'Planes.' and 'Uncle Buck' (I would not be surprised if it is the same home). As for the acting. Macaulay Culkin is not at his best here. His best performance would have to be in an earlier John Hughes film named 'Uncle Buck,' where he had more of a cute charm than an acting charm. Here, he could barely act his way out of a plastic bag. Fortunately, with great performances by John Heard, Catherine O'Hara, Pesci and Stern, his bad acting is long forgotten by the time we become absorbed into the film. John Heard and Catherine O'Hara bring Kevin's parents to life. They seem almost complete opposites. Kevin's father, Peter (Heard), is very calm and laidback.

His mother, Kate (O'Hara) is extremely nervous almost all the time, fretting throughout the film. She is aggravated very easily and, like all mothers, her instinctive nature to care for her child is what drives her to the point she goes to in the film. And then there's Pesci and Stern. My favorite lot of the film. They perfectly blend humor, pain and aggravation to the film. Pesci's character Harry is very strict, easily agitated and picks on Marv for a great many things. Marv, the stereotypical 'tall, stupid one,' is completely stupid. He does things that would make a hamster blush. Yet he is the character I have found many like the most, mainly because he is so stupid you have to feel sorry for him. Stern brings a great trait to the character of Marv, and I am very pleased he got the part. It's a hard choice to decide which baddie is better, so I just say I like them both the same. All in all, 'Home Alone' is probably the best Christmas movie to rise out of the film industry in the last twenty years.

It seamlessly blends humor, pain, emotion, human instinct and some great booby-traps all into one little bundle. This film has stood the test of time greatly. 4.5/5 stars - source Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as the Grinches Who Almost Steal Christmas...5/10 The overwhelming success of 'Home Alone' (it spawned two sequels), is enough to guarantee that most people will love this story of a family that departs for Paris on the Christmas holidays, mistakenly leaving an eight-year old boy to fend for himself. And fend he does, when burglars threaten to break in unless he can rig enough booby-traps to keep them out. That's the simple plot in a nutshell. Macaulay Culkin seems to have no problem carrying most of the film with a wide variety of looks, gestures and expressions--but for my money it's Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci who get the main laughs as the bumbling burglars intent on outwitting the kid's traps. Others in the cast don't have as much to do but do well enough by their roles, particularly Catherine O'Hara and John Heard as the parents who only discover on the plane that Kevin is missing.

The laughs are steady, the color photography is great and the slight story is probably every boy's fantasy of what it might be like to be left home alone. Add to that the holiday flavor of Christmas and a pleasant musical score by John Williams and you have the makings of a classic. The proof is in the pudding--they must have done something right!! source The Best Christmas Film of the Past 20 Years5/10 "Home Alone" is a hilarious film about a young boy (Macaulay Culkin) who is accidently left home during the Christmas holidays after the rest of his family goes to Europe. At first Culkin loves the situation, but soon he is scared to death when he learns that burglars Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are targeting his house. However, Culkin is pretty smart for an eight-year-old and he has plans for them when they attack. Chris Columbus' direction is smart and so is the over-achieving screenplay. This film has a little bit of something for everyone and the fact that the backdrop is the Christmas holidays, only makes it that much more special. All the performers do well and in the end the film also does. 4 stars out of 5.

Funny and highly entertaining.8/10 Home Alone (1990) Rating: 8/10 It might be dumb and corny, but I've actually liked this highly entertaining flick. The plot's unbelievable, but who cares: it's funny! Macaulay Culkin plays 8 year-old Kevin, a misunderstood kid who lives in a big ass house with his family. They're about to leave for Paris, where they're gonna spend Christmas. About 20 people are running around the house, frenetically preparing for the trip. Kevin's mad at everyone, because no one pays attention to him, unless it's to yell at him. Hence, Kevin goes to sleep wishing that his whole family would disappear, and the next morning, they do! The thing is that they somehow woke up late, left home in a hurry, and hey, they forget Lil Kev! At first, he's happy as a monkey, but after a while, things get messy. Two dumbass robbers are planning to rob his house, but Kev ain't gonna let them! Okay, I know, this is one stupid story, but it's developed into a wonderful family film, as enjoyable as it is warmhearted.

Mac Culkin is awesome in the lead. He really carries the film: he's got style, he's funny and he's even a good actor! Too bad his personal life screwed up, because he had the talent to become a grown-up movie star. The idiotic criminals are also really cool, because they cast good actors instead of some Ernest-style lame-o over-actors. Oscar-winner Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern (the narrator on The Wonder Years) are hilarious, but they also bring a bit more depth to what could have been cardboard characters. Pesci plays an aggressive thug, and anyone who's seen him in a Scorsese film knows how good he is at it. Stern plays a total dufus, and he's also really convincing at it. The film's humor might seem dumb, but hey, it's funny. John Hughes' screenplay has Kevin protecting his home by turning the thieves into human Wile E. Coyotes, and like the cartoon, it made me laugh. The gags might be old, but they're played with inventiveness, and the acting is always right. I just love this film, and you will too if you look beyond the fact that it's a family film.

Question: In the classic 1990 movie Home Alone, where is the McCallister family headed on vacation when 8 year old Kevin is mistakenly left behind?
Answer: Paris